Your guide to Lunar New Year food

Lunar New Year marks the start of the year according to the lunar calendar and is celebrated across many East and Southeast Asian cultures, including China, Korea, and Vietnam. Each year is associated with a zodiac animal that sets the tone for the months ahead.

In 2026, Lunar New Year falls on 17 February, ushering in the Year of the Horse — a symbol of energy, optimism, and new beginnings. It’s a time to gather, share delicious food, and welcome the year ahead.

Sensational starters

• Chinese Starter Selection – a crowd-pleasing mix of Vegetable Money Bags, Veggie Spring Rolls, and Mini Prawn Toasts. Perfect for picking, dipping, and sharing.

• Collection Golden Sweet Chilli Prawn Bao Buns – handmade in small batches and generously filled with responsibly sourced black tiger prawns, spring onions, and sweet red chillies, finished with black and white sesame seeds for a satisfying crunch.

• Our Best Ever Prawn Toast – crisp fried bread topped with chopped responsibly sourced prawns, spring onions, and sweet red chillies, sprinkled with sesame seeds. Golden, moreish, and utterly irresistible.

Must-try mains

• Collection Slow Cooked Black Pepper Beef – tender British beef marinated in Shaoxing rice wine and slow-cooked in a rich soy and hot black pepper sauce, finished with crisp green peppers.

• Sweet and Sour Cauliflower – crunchy battered florets with pineapple and peppers in a lusciously tangy sauce.

Discover our Chinese-inspired recipes, made for cooking at home but full of restaurant-worthy flavour. From sticky chilli beef and roast duck with a glossy plum glaze to speedy stir-fries for busy evenings, these dishes are simple to pull together and full of flavour – perfect for bringing your favourite Chinese-style flavours to the table.

Make Lunar New Year a moment to share with our take on the iconic duck pancakes. Think succulent, slow-cooked aromatic duck wrapped in soft Chinese-style pancakes, finished with rich hoisin sauce and fresh, crunchy veg.

Using our Slow Cooked British Aromatic Half Duck, this dish comes together effortlessly. Shred the tender meat, warm the pancakes, then serve with spring onions and matchstick-thin cucumber. Pile it high, roll it up and enjoy a centre-of-the-table feast made for celebrating.

Try these recipes

• Hoisin Pork Belly and Apple Bao Buns – Soft, fluffy bao buns are stuffed with sticky, spiced pork belly and topped with tangy, crisp apple slaw — a perfect balance of rich and refreshing flavours that’s utterly irresistible.

• Pineapple Egg Fried Rice – This speedy veggie fried rice is a clever way to get big flavour fast. Sweet pineapple chunks add a juicy pop, while Nasi Goreng paste brings a punch of spice and umami. Ready in minutes, it’s a fuss-free, flavour-packed side or midweek treat.

• Sticky Pineapple Pork Belly Bowl – Nothing hits the sweet-and-savoury spot like tender, sticky pork belly with caramelised pineapple. Served over fragrant coconut rice and sprinkled with spring onions, this bowl is full of flavour and effortless indulgence.

• Sticky Plum and Ginger Duck Noodles – Take your midweek stir-fry up a notch with this sweet and sticky noodle dish. M&S Collection plum, ginger and ruby port chutney adds a special touch, while tender duck stir-fry strips and ready-to-go vegetables make it ready in just 15 minutes — deliciously fast, fuss-free, and full of flavour.